Local ML Gun Clubs sought

[three otters]

Having recently gotten back into Muzzleloading I am interested in finding a muzzleloading gun club / shooting club in the Eastern / Central Pennsylvania area. I live in eastern central Jersey but I have a place in the Poconos (Newfoundland) that I spend most weekends. I'm looking for a shooting club that will tolerate a newbie and all the questions that go along with a greenhorn. Any informatuion on this type of club would be greatly appreciated. :hatsoff:

Big K

 

[Runner]

No help on the info you requested, but welcome back from Eastern Mo.!

 

[Big John]

Try[url] www.NMLRA.com[/url] look at charter clubs in your state.

 

[Zonie]

Don't worry about being a "newbie".
You will find that the folks who shoot black powder will be more than happy to help you with any question you might have.

We, here on this forum are a good crossection of them and (I hope) you have noticed how we are happy to help folks.

When you find a place, the shooters will not know if you know what your doing or not, so they will pretty much leave you alone. This is not a matter of being unfriendly, it's just that they will assume you know what your doing and will not want to bother you.

To get around this, just tell a few of the shooters nearest to you that your new to the sport and would like some help.
No sooner will you mention this than you will have more help than you thought possible.

I guess I should point out the obvious though.
If the shooters are in the middle of a competitive match they won't want to be bothered.
As soon as the match is finished or before it starts is a good time to mention your desire to learn.

zonie

 

[Old Salt]

I recommend you get a copy of the annual booklet published by The PA Federation of Blackpowder Shooters Inc. They list many of the shoots and rondevous that happen throughout the state.

Bucks County Fish and Game Assoc in Doylestown has an active group of BP shooters and we hold a monthly shoot open to the public.

http://www.bcfg.org/

Here's another active club in Eastern PA

http://langhornerodandgunclub.org/


Here's the PA Federation link

http://home.earthlink.net/~pafederationofblackpowdershooter/

Old Salt

 

[Hawkeye]

There are not many clubs really close, however there are a few, try Garage Rats near Brodheadsville, about 40 miles from Newfoundland,[url] www.garagerats.homestead.com[/url]. Also Factoryville Sportsmens Club shoots the 2nd Sunday every month. The club is about 45 miles from Newfoundland,[url] http://www.f-s-c.org[/url] Blue Ridge Rifles is in Schuylkill Haven about 100 miles[url] http://mysite.verizon.net/blueridgerifles[/url] Blue Mountain Muzzleloading Rifle Association is also about 100 miles it is just off I78 near Shartlesville, I don't have any web or email contact information for them. First Frontier Militia is near Bowmanstown, about 60 miles from Newfoundland also with no computer contact information. The last is Susquehanna Sportsmens Association, it is also about 100 miles, West near Danville PA and I also have no computer information for contacts. I hope this helps you some, if you turn something else up near Scranton Wilkes-Barre please let me know.

Hawkeye

 

[paulvallandigham]

The best and quickest way to find a group is ask at sporting goods stores, gun shops, and even local police departments. Pennsylvania is a Carry Permit State, with a relatively quick application process. The Sheriff's handle it in each county, so they have lots of contact with civilian shooters. I would think the County Sheriff would be able to steer you to the nearest gun club. Whether they shoot BP is probably something you will have to ask the club members. But, again, all these sources will help you zero in on ranges and clubs, and sources of BP.

 

[kawaker900]

BigK, Welcome to the forum! I live in North Jersey and belong to a club, Garden State Black Powder Association. We welcome new members and shoot the last Sunday of each month in Vernon, NJ. If your interested send me an email and I'll give you somemore info. :thumbsup:

 

[jbg]

I belong to a club called the Navasing Longrifles. We are in Sullivan Co., Ny, about an hour or 2 north of you. Great bunch of guys, we do informal shoots 3-4 times a year, most of the guys do F&I and Rev War. If you are interested in coming to a shoot, PM me.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Lots of really good info here! I'm also a member of the No. Jersey club that shoots in Vernon. I'ts a 1.5 hour drive from the Sayreville NJ area.

A club in Old Bridge NJ that my son and I are both members of has a regular BP league competition on the first Sunday of the month year round. We shot just yesterday! The league is newbie friendly and a couple of newbies were there yesterday having fun and making SMOKE!

Give me a PM with your email and I'll send you info and a link to the Club's website.

You also may want to take a drive to the BP Altar in Kempton PA known as Dixon Muzzleloading. Chuck & Gregg Dixon have everything you need and offer really good advice when it comes to BP sports. Their annual Gun Makers Fair is the last weekend of this month and it's only a short drive from your PA house! The Old Bridge Club usually car-pools members to the Gun Makers Fair, making the experience even more enjoyable!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Dave